Response to:
Is the Persian Language Dying?
By: Farhang Sadeghpour
Boston, Massachusetts, USA

In response to Mr. Isabeigi's article titled "Is the Persian Language Dying?" I must say that Mr. Isabeigi has mentioned some valid points. However, I do not agree with him, for example, on the statistics regarding the usage of Arabic-rooted words.

First, we must remember that nearly two thousand Persian words have entered into the Arabic language, which in many instances, have re-entered into the Persian language under an Arabic guise. For instance, Joe'har for Goe'har, Tebb for Tabb, Jorjan for Gorgan, Azerbaijan for Azarbygone, Noskheh for Nosk and hundreds more.

However, I do agree that instead of Vatan why not indeed use its Persian equivalent of Meehan, and instead of Kalameh use Vauzheh and Veezheh for Makh'soos? We should notice that Persian words are far more musical than their counterparts in Arabic which are more gutteral.

On the other hand, some of our pedantic forefathers, not Arabs, have dressed many Persian words in an Arabic tincture such as Maydaun, which in its plural form should be Maydaun'ha. They dressed it as Mayadeen or Ostaud, in its plural form is Ostaudaun, but the plural of Ostaud in Arabic form is Asauteed. Therefore, in order to keep our language alive, we have to keep the Persian grammar healthy.

Also, many Arabic terms or words have adapted Persian dressing and are in use, but in the Persian form they have no meaning in the Arabic language. I believe that in order for any language to survive it must depend upon the health of its grammar. Grammar is the backbone of any language.

Secondly, Mr. Isabeigi has exemplified the reign of the cleric regime in Iran in that not only are the clergymen indifferent to the Persian language, rather they are the culprits and conveyors of Arabic terms and terminology. It is up to every individual Iranian to resist the cleric's way of speech and terminology. Some of our so-called forward thinking men and women of education upon hearing Khomeini's speech, began to imitate Khomeini's poor vocabulary and poorer Persian grammar!

In a very short period of time, his style was prevalent in every phase of the media within and outside of Iran. Why? Were they forced to do so? I think not. In my opinion, it was something akin to either affection or sycophancy, or both! It is fortunate that the present generation of Iranians within the country are resenting the very mien and methods of those clerics in power who disregard the wishes and wont of this generation. These youths are endowed with a political intelligence far superior to the youths of my generation. These youths assure us that in the very near future they will be attached to the ancient culture and history of Iran more than the youths of the previous generation.

Mr. Isabeigi has accused the late Shah of shirking his responsibility towards purifying the Persian language. He has also questioned the late Shah's patriotism. The Shah and his government were accused of being too dictatorial. Hence, an end had to be put to his reign. Therefore, a revolution was created for the "betterment" and "democratization" of Iran. Was this "betterment" and "democratization" realized? Yet, we are complaining that the Shah and his government did not use enough authority to rescue the virtue of our language. Now, doesn't this sort of capricious and incongruous demand show that we want some kind of authority figure to take the responsibility for our own dereliction of accountability?

Many of the Arabic-rooted words that the poets of past centuries have used, in my opinion, are obsolete and obscure. Words such as Taumaut for Yauveh, Azragh for Aubi, as well as many other words, have not been used by writers and poets for more than half a century.

I do agree that there are some symptoms of a bad diet in the Persian language today, but they are benign. With a bit of care and nursing, our language will be fine. For this we do not need any authority or authorities to accept the responsibility of purifying our vacabulary. We ourselves must encourage our writers and individuals who are active in our media to use indigenous terminology until it once again becomes popular amongst the Persian speaking nations.

However, I for one believe that the Persian language will have a long life. No, it is not dying! An afterthought has occurred to me. Another way to keep our identity intact and strong is to choose indigenous Persian names for our children and grandchildren, regardless of where we live. In doing so, I assure you not one iota of our faith in our religion is going to be lost.

I wish all Iranians Godspeed and may you live long with pride. !

(end)

Khorsheed.com - August 2002